In an interview with Portafolio, Laurent Cavrois, General Manager of Vía Sumapaz and Executive Director of VINCI Highways in Latin America, spoke about the next deliveries in the work schedule that will improve the Bogotá – Girardot transfers. From Vinci he spoke about the vision of the firm in the country and the awaiting conditions to invest in new infrastructure projects.
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How is the progress of the work going?
We are working at a high pace on many fronts in the northern part of the corridor. We have already delivered a large part of the southern section with units 1 and 4. In general, we have 60% of the roads completed. Next year we will be at 100%.
Although there has been progress, there are still complaints about the works and that they would triple the travel time. How are you preparing for the new holiday season?
This high density of work does have consequences for traffic and this will continue until the first quarter of 2025. There were two options: the first, to do all the work in 10 years and have few problems or to do it very quickly, which has hindered traffic a little more.
Regarding the remaining time on the road, we are monitoring it minute by minute and we take it very seriously, not counting the exit from Bogotá. We agree that the works impact traffic due to their complexity and we will continue with sections with only one lane in each direction.
During these holidays, we will continue working with the Ditra, the ANI, the governor’s office, and the municipalities to move forward. We are also trying to speed things up as much as possible with signage, police, return plans, and circulation schemes that allow for better transit in the northern part of the corridor.
When will they make the next delivery of a functional unit to add more road to service the next holidays?
We have four functional units left and all will be delivered between the end of 2024 and 2025. We will start with number five, which is north of Fusa, then there will be number three, which is between Boquerón and Chinauta and finally number six and seven, which are the northernmost part of the corridor, from Silvania, Granada, to the entrance to Soacha.
Is the last section the one in Soacha?
The last section will be Silvania, unit six.
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Laurent Cavrois, General Manager of Vía Sumapaz and Executive Director of VINCI Highways in Latin America
Via Sumapaz
In line with this, when will people feel that the exit to Bogotá is no longer so stormy?
We hope that we will see results. We have 70% of the third lane and the roads rehabilitated, but I agree that we still do not see the result in terms of travel time.
Of course, it’s not seven hours, it has improved. But it was a surprise for us because we thought that, by freeing up the entire southern section, traffic would be lightened a bit and that wasn’t the case. But having said that, by the first quarter of 2025, there will be improvements in the travel time of this northern part and obviously by the second quarter there will be a very significant improvement.
How long does it take to get from point to point and how much do you expect it to improve?
According to our information, the trip from Bogotá to Girardot from Despensa to Girardot takes 170.2 minutes, and in the opposite direction 163. It is difficult to predict what the final result could be because it depends on many factors.
What’s in store for the rest of the year for the concession?
The most important thing is that we will deliver another functional unit at the end of the year, or at the beginning of the next year. We are in compliance with the work schedule and we respect our commitments with the ANI, that is very important.
At this point, what challenges can you highlight from the work?
It is a very complete route on an axis with the highest traffic in the country, which has an impact on logistics between Bogotá and the port of Buenaventura.
We have a very strong focus on integration with the territory, which is why we recently changed our name to Vía Sumapaz. This name is in line with the objectives of economic, social and environmental development of the territories we pass through.
There, we have the challenge of reducing our carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, which leads us to develop a series of solar energy activities, moving to LED, developing electric mobility, which is internal to the company, but also promoting it with our users, etc.
On the social side, we are working with all the municipalities to try to boost the communities and their economic activity, whether through tourism or rural enterprises using our infrastructure as a showcase.
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Bogota – Girardot route.
Via 40 Express
As for the economic challenges, the increase in tolls has not yet stabilized, how are you being affected? Vinci, how do you perceive this?
Our message is always the same. We are seeking to strengthen or develop what is a partnership between the public and the private sector, and in order for that to be strengthened and for projects to flow, for investors to come to Colombia, we really appeal for more transparency and more consistency.
It is true that there was no clear and consistent message on this issue of tolls, and that is not good in general for developing an infrastructure program. We now have an excellent relationship with the ANI and the Ministry, and although this specific aspect is not resolved, we are working very well at the project level to mitigate the consequences.
Regarding the new wave of projects that the Government has, are you interested in participating in any specific one?
Of course. We are always very attentive and open to studying the opportunities that arise. Today they have not been launched yet, we do not have access to the documentation, but we will be on the lookout.
We are in Colombia to develop a commitment from the company to further investment and depending on the quality of the projects and the institutionality that the Government can provide in their structure, this will be analyzed.
Paula Galeano Balaguera
Portfolio Journalist
